Following are a selection of interesting news items from our field. This section will be updated on a continuous basis so check back often in between issues, to see what is new.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sony Mobile Communications rolled out a next-generation Xperia line of products with the first Xperia X series smartphones, along with ambient connected devices. Part of the rollout is the new Xperia Ear, a next-generation wireless ear-piece, or hearable.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) will be restored to the levels of coverage available before 2012 for all beneficiaries.
On February 25, the World Dementia Council officially named Dr. Yves Joanette, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Aging, as its new Chair. The World Dementia Council stems from a G8 (now G7) Summit on Dementia commitment in 2013. It has since expanded to include more country representation. As Chair, Dr. Joanette will oversee the work of the Council in coordinating global efforts and helping find tangible solutions to the challenge of dementia.
Humans use the time delay at the ears to deduce the origin of a sound signal. In frogs, lizards and birds the distance between the ears is too small. However, they have a cavity connecting the eardrums, in which internal and external sound waves are superimposed. Researchers have now created a mathematical model which explains how this 'inner ear' creates new signals that allow animals to localize sounds.
My favorite restaurant recently underwent a large renovation. It was necessary, as the place definitely needed an update, but I was crushed. This restaurant was my family's haven from noise. Every Friday night, almost without fail, we enjoyed a quiet, stress free, delicious meal in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. And none of us had to worry about my hearing loss.
Only 30 per cent of the English language is visible on someone's lips when they speak, making everyday life for someone profoundly deaf a challenging experience as they try to make out what's being said around them. This was an everyday reality for Monica Elaine Campbell, who used to criss-cross Canada to meet with individuals in her role as a Veterans Affairs classification officer.
For the first time, researchers have demonstrated a direct link between the Wbp2 gene and progressive hearing loss. The scientists report that the loss of Wbp2 expression leads to progressive high-frequency hearing loss in mouse as well as in two clinical cases of children with deafness with no other obvious features.
CBC Radio and current affairs show The Current are starting a pilot project to help improve the accessibility of public radio for an estimated 1.3 million Canadians who are deaf or hearing impaired. CBC Radio and current affairs show The Current are starting a pilot project to help improve the accessibility of public radio for an estimated 1.3 million Canadians who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Hearing loss, if left untreated, can lead to serious emotional and social consequences, reduced job performance and diminished quality of life. Untreated hearing loss also can interfere with cognitive abilities because so much effort is put toward understanding speech. Now new research shows that hearing aids improve brain function in persons with hearing loss.
More than 1 in 20 (nearly 3.3 million) children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a dizziness or balance problem, according to an analysis of the first large-scale, nationally representative survey of these problems in US children. Researchers found that prevalence increases with age, and girls have a higher prevalence of dizziness and balance problems compared to boys.